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QUR FLAG 



ITS HISTORY AND CHANGES FROM 

1607 TO I9IO 



WITH COLORED ILLUSTRATIONS 



FOURTH EDITION 



NEW HAVEN, CONN.: 

The Tuttle, Morehouse & Taylor Company, Publishers 

1910 













< 






Copyright 1896 and Renewed 1910, 


by 




Sarah E. Champion 






All rights reserved. 







©CI.A^73?(J5 



DEDICATED 



TO THE 



MARY CLAP WOOSTER CHAPTER 
d. A. R. 

OF 

New Haven, Connecticut 



Mrs. Henry Champion, D. A. R. 



The original paper was written at the request of the Chapter and read 
to them June 14, 1895. 



OUR FLAG, 

Whose one hundred and thirty- third birthday we celebrated this June 14, 
1 9 10, was, like everything in nature or history, a growth, and to trace that 
growth takes us back to the National flag of the Mother Country. 

One naturally asks, What flag floated over the early settlements of our 
country? What over its battle fields previous to that June day in 1777, 
when by an act of Congress it was resolved "that the flag of the nation be 
thirteen, stripes, alternate red and white, and thirteen stars, white on a blue 
field"? 

Answering our question in order of time, we take first the earliest 
settlements of the country. 

Tradition tells us that the Norsemen, or Northmen, and the Danes 
landed between the years 986 and 1300 at several points at the extreme 
northeast of the continent, and even as far down the coast as the New 
England shore. 



That an expedition from Iceland in 1347 landed near what is now 
Newport, Rhode Island; at which time the "Round Tower" there was 
built. These expeditions no doubt planted some ensign or standard, as 
they took temporary possession, but no record of its design is left us. 

In 1492 Columbus planted the Spanish flag on the Island of San Sal- 
vador, one of the Bahama group, and again in 1498 at the mouth of the 
( )rinoco, S. A. He supposed he had then reached the coast of Asia. 
According to Humboldt, Sebastian Cabot landed at Labrador in 1497, anc l 
planted the red cross of St. George, the royal ensign of Henry the Seventh. 
If so, the English flag then for the first time floated over North American 
soil. But we narrow down our field of inqiury to what is now the United 
States, and as we .remember that for one hundred and fifty-seven years, 
from the wintry day when the Mayflower landed on the Massachusetts 
Coast, or the one hundred and seventy years from the settlement of James- 
town, Va., to the June day in 1777 when the stars and stripes were 
adopted — for this more than a century and a half the flag of England was 



our flag, we ask with interest, What was the flag of the Mother Country 
in those years ? 

About the year 1192 Richard Coeur de Lion had asked the aid of 
St. George, Bishop of Cappadocia. He gave the king as a banner what is 
now called the "Red Cross of St. George," and Edward III, about 1345, 
made St. George the patron saint of the kingdom. (1) 

Under this flag Sir Humphrey Gilbert, Bartholomew Gosnold and 
others sailed with grants of land from Queen Elizabeth to found colonies 
in the new world, 1 578-1 587. 

The generous, even reckless way, in which land was disposed of by 
these charters is shown by the boundaries given. 

All the land between the latitude of Cape Fear, North Carolina, and 
Canada was given by the Queen and to be called "Virginia." It was to be 
divided into two districts; the southern part, from the latitude of Cape 
Fear to the mouth of the Potomac, and running back indefinitely into the 
wilderness, was given to the "London Company," and to be called Southern 



Virginia; the land from about the latitude of New York to Canada was 
given to the "Plymouth Company," and to be called Northern Virginia. 

The strip of country between these two grants, about one hundred miles 
of coast, was to be a dividing line to avoid disputes as to territory, and 
neither Company might make settlements more than fifty miles from its 
boundary. 

All these efforts to plant colonies proved failures. Lack of supplies 
and cold winters led the settlers to give up the project and return to 
England. 

This red cross of St. George was England's flag until the year 1606, 
over two hundred and fifty years. 

In that year, 1606, Scotland was added to England, and King James I, 
in honor of the union, placed the white cross of St. Andrew on the national 
flag, changing the field from white to blue. (2) This diagonal white 
cross of St. Andrew had been the badge of the Scots since the Crusades. 

The union of the two crosses was called the "King's colors," or 



"Union colors," and the first permanent settlements in this country were 
made under its protection. It was the flag of the Mayflower in 1620. 

Massachusetts records speak of it as in use in that colony in 1634. 

In November of that year a Mr. Endicott of Salem defaced the King's 
colors. Much excitement followed, a trial was held, when it was proven 
that it was not done with' ill intent to England, but the red cross was a relic 
of Anti-Christ, having been given to England by a Pope, and so was a 
cause of offense. After referring the matter to an assembly of ministers, 
and then to one court after another, it was proposed that the Colony show 
no flag, and none was shown. 

Then arose a question. If captains of vessels returning to Europe 
were asked what colors they saw here, the truth might cause trouble. The 
matter was referred to Rev. John Cotton, who wisely suggested a way by 
which the growing spirit of independence might be satisfied and yet no 
offense be given. He said, "As the fort at the entrance of Boston harbor 
without doubt belongs to the King, the 'King's colors' should be used 



there." This was done, to the extent of showing them on the staff at the 
fort when a vessel was passing, but only then, and they were not used else- 
where in the Colony. This was in 1636. 

In 1043 the three colonies of Plymouth, Massachusetts and Connecti- 
cut united, under the name of "The United Colonies of New England," but 
no flag was adopted. 

In 1 65 1, fifteen years after the Salem episode, the Court of Massachu- 
setts ordered that the crosses of St. George and St. Andrew be used in the 
Colony. 

Under Cromwell and Charles IT, various minor changes were made in 
the flag of the Mother Country, but in 1707 the color was changed to 
crimson and the two crosses, which had covered the entire flag, were placed 
in the upper corner. (5) 

This was called the "Cromwell flag," and in that form was not 
accepted by the colonies ; we continued to use the "King's colors" (2) till 
1707, when we adopted the red flag, but substituted a device of our own in 
place of the crosses. (4) 







s 
% 




^ 


. 









All the pictures of New England flags from 1707 to 1776 show a 
red or blue ensign, field white, with a pine tree or globe in the upper 
corner, sometimes covering the entire field. The pine tree was oftener 
used. 

Massachusetts had used the pine tree as her symbol for some time. 
It is on the silver coins of that Colony, the die for which was cast in 
1652, and used without change of date for thirty years. Trumbull, in 
his celebrated picture of the "Battle of Bunker Hill" in the rotunda of 
the Capitol at Washington, represents the red flag, white corner, green 
pine tree. 

The Connecticut troops who took part in the exciting times that 
followed Lexington and Bunker Hill had a State banner with the State 
arms and the motto, "Qui transtulit sustinet" 

The troops of Massachusetts adopted the words, "An appeal to 
Heaven." 

Early New York records speak of different standards; indeed, the 



regiments from various States, hastening to the aid of Washington or 
his generals, carried flags of various devices; many having only a local 
interest and only used on the occasion that originated them. 

The men at Lexington had neither uniform nor flag's, but at Bunker 

Hill, two months later, the Colonial troops had more the appearance of an 
army. 

Among the flags described, the pine tree is most frequently men- 
tioned (5), also a serpent coiled, ready to spring, with the motto, 
"Beware!" (6) "Don't tread on me," or "Come if you dare!" The 
snake flag was used by the Southern States from 1776 to June, 1777. 
A chain of thirteen links, a ring, a tiger, and a field of wheat were also 
used as devices. 

In October, 1775, Washington writes to two officers who were about 
to take command of cruisers: "Please fix on some flag, by which our 
vessels may know each other." 

They decided on the "pine-tree flag," as it was called. 




DoHtT^ead On he- 



—13— 

This is frequently mentioned in the records of 1775 and 1776 as used 
by vessels. 

The first striped flag was flung to the breeze and "kissed by the 
free air of Heaven," at Cambridge, Mass., Washington's Headquarters, 
January 1, 1776. 

Washington says : "We hoisted the Union flag in compliment to the 
United Colonies, and saluted it with thirteen guns." 

It had thirteen stripes, alternate red and white, and the united crosses 
of St. George and St. Andrew on a blue field. (7) Similar flags were 
used later in the year. 

When reported in England, it was alluded to as "the thirteen rebel- 
lious stripes." 

In 1775 a navy of seventeen vessels, varying from ten to thirty-two 
guns, was ordered. Says Lieut. Preble : "The senior of the five 1st 
Lieutenants of the new Continental navy was John Paul Jones. He has 
left it on record that the 'Flag of America' was hoisted by his own hand 



on his vessel, the Alfred, the first time it was ever displayed by a man-of- 
war." This was probably the same design as the Cambridge flag - , used 
January 1. 1 776, and was raised on the Alfred about the same time. No 
exact date is given. 

We come now to the time when the crosses of St. George and 
St. Andrew were taken from the striped Union flag, and a blue field with 
white stars substituted for the symbol of English authority. 

Thirteen states had bound themselves together (Declaration of Inde- 
pendence signed July 4, 1776) as the "United States of America." They 
w ere : 

New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, 

Massachusetts, Delaware, 

Rhode Island, Maryland, 

Connecticut, Virginia, 

New York, North Carolina, 

Xew Jersey, South Carolina, 

Georgia. 



**** 






•** 



If they were to be a free and independent nation they must have a 
flag to represent it. Accordingly, one hundred and thirty-three years ago 
this June 14th (1910) the American Congress in session at Philadelphia 
resolved, "that the flag of the thirteen United States be thirteen stripes, 
alternate red and white; the union to be thirteen stars, white on a blue 
field, representing a new constellation, the stars to be arranged in a 
circle." (8) 

Here we may ask, What suggested the stars and stripes ? 

It has been said in answer, that the words "representing a new 
constellation" refer to the constellation Lyra, symbol of harmony; that 
this suggested the stars. As to the stripes, some writers refer us to the 
stripe which, in the absence of uniform, marked the rank of the Conti- 
nental soldier, by orders from headquarters at Cambridge, July 24, 1775. 

Says another writer, in answer: "The flag of the Netherlands." (9) 
It had become familiar to the Pilgrim fathers during their twelve years' 
sojourn in Holland, and its triple stripe, red, white and blue, suggested 
the stripes and the three colors. 



— 16— 

Another answer has been, thai Washington found in the coat of 
arms o\ his own family a hint from which he drew the design for the flag. 

The coal ^^\ arms oi die Washington family has two red bars on a 
white ground, and three stars above the top bar. A careful search among' 
die records of dial family fails to discover any connection. Says one of 
their genealogists: "There are several points of resemblance between our 
coat of arms and die flag of the country." The stars there are explained 
as meaning in heraldry that the estate passed to the third son. 

In an English genealogy of the family, the author refers to the matter 
as entirely without foundation, and adds: "At this time Washington was 
only Commander-in-Chief of the army, and Congress arranged the flag; 
besides, he was not at all popular then, there being a strong movement to 
supplant him with Sir Horatio Gates, fresh from the victory of Saratoga." 

Certainly, Washington himself never referred to any connection 
between his coat of arms and the flag, and his pride of family might have 
led him to do so, had any connection existed. 



It is said that a committee had been appointed, three weeks before 
June 14, when the stars and stripes were adopted, who were to consider 
the subject and report on a general standard for all the troops of the 
Colonies; that the committee, consisting of General Washington, Robert 
Morris and Colonel Ross, called on Betsey Ross, widow of John Ross, 
who kept an upholsterer's shop on Arch street, Philadelphia, and passing 
into the back parlor to avoid public view, they asked Mrs. Ross if she 
could make a flag like a design shown her. She replied "she would try." 
She suggested changing the stars from six-pointed, the French rule, to 
five-pointed, the English rule, which was done. Our flags always have 
the five-pointed stars, our coins the six-pointed. There is no doubt but 
that she made the first flag and that she made them for the government for 
several years. 

It is claimed that the first using of the stars and stripes in actual 
military service was at Fort Stanwix, renamed Fort Schuyler, now 
Rome, N. Y., in 1777. August 3d, of that year, the fort was besieged by 



the English and Indians; the brave garrison were without a flag, but 
-•no was made in the fort. The red was strips of a petticoat furnished 
by a woman, the white was from shirts torn up for the purpose, and the 
blue was a piece of Colonel Peter Gansevoort's military cloak. The 
siege was raised August 22, 1777. 

The first anniversary of American independence was celebrated 
July 4, 1777, at Philadelphia, at Charleston, S. C, and other places. 

Records of the exercises are preserved, and the flag adopted a few 
weeks earlier is mentioned as used. 

Thirteen stripes and thirteen stars are mentioned as used at Brandy- 
wine. September 11, 1777, at Germantown, October 4, 1777, and to have 
floated over the surrender of Burgoyne. 

This flag cheered the patriots at Valley Forge the next winter, it 
waved at Vorktown, and shared in the rejoicings at the close of the war. 

"The shipping of the country seems to have been slow to adopt any 
particular form of flag," says Lieut. Preble. 



—1 9— 

President Stiles perhaps refers to one of these flags when he writes 
in his diary, under date of April 24, 1783 : "Public rejoicing for the Peace 
here in New Haven. Thirteen guns discharged at sunrise on the green, 
and the continental flag displayed, presented by the ladies, cost $120. The 
stripes red and white with azure field in upper part, charged with thirteen 
stars." 

In 1789, when Washington took the presidential chair for his first 
term, there were still but thirteen states in the Union, none having been 
added in the twelve years since 1776, nor were any added till Vermont 
came into the Union, two years later, in 1791, and Kentucky in 1792. In 
consequence of these additions, the Senate in Congress assembled in New 
York passed a bill, in 1794, increasing the number of stars and stripes to 
fifteen, to take effect the next year, 1795. When the bill came to the 
House it caused considerable debate. Said one wise prophet, "The flag 
ought to be permanent; we may go on altering it for one hundred years. 
Very likely in fifteen years we may number twenty states." This was 
almost literally fulfilled. 



One representative suggested that "it might give offense to incoming 
states, it" a new star and a new stripe were not added." The bill finally 
passed, making fifteen the number of stars and of stripes after July 4, 
[795. 1 w) We used this flag for twenty-three years. But one after 
another the states came knocking for admission. 

Tennessee. 1796, Louisiana, 1812, 

Ohio. 1802, and Indiana, 1816, 

had joined the Union, and in 1816 the subject of the Flag came up again 
in Congress, now assembled at Washington; since 1800 the capital of the 
country.* A committee was appointed to inquire into the expediency of 
again altering the Hag. This committee reported in favor of increasing 
the number of stars and of stripes to twenty. The matter was referred 
to Captain S. C. Reid, who as captain of a privateer had made himself 

* It is of interest to note that the capital was changed nine times during the Revolutionary War. 
As the liritish army came dangerously near the capital, the few state papers were hastily taken to a 
place of safety, which hecame the capita] pro-tem. Philadelphia, Baltimore, Philadelphia, Lancaster 
and York. Ptnn., the same day (Sept. 27, 1777), Philadelphia, Princeton, Annapolis, Philadelphia, 
New York, 1790 to 1800, then permanently located at Washington. 



10 



famous by the capture of several British ships. He advised reducing the 
number of stripes to the original thirteen and increasing the number of 
stars, one for each incoming state, making them form one large star; 
the motto to be, "E pluribus unum." The committee reported the bill as 
recommended by Capt. Reid. 

It was "laid over," came up again two years later, and was passed 
April 4, 1818, to take effect July 4th of that year. A newspaper of the 
day says: "The time allowed for the change, three months, is too short. 
It will take a month before the change can be reported in New Orleans 
and vessels all over the world cannot hear of it for a year or more." 

Mrs. Reid made the first flag after the new design, proposed by her 
husband. July 4, 1818, the number of stars in the flag was twenty, Mis- 
sissippi being admitted 181 7. 

The rule of arranging the stars to form one large star was aban- 
doned. As the number of states increased, it was necessary to make the 
individual stars on the field so small as to be almost indistinguishable as 



.tars, or their points must interlace The plan of arranging them in 
was adopted in 1818 and has been continued. 



Illinois was admitted 1818, 
Alabama, 1819, 
Maine, 1820, 
Missouri, 182 1, 
Arkansas, 1836, 
Michigan, 1837, 
Florida, 1845, 
Texas, 1845, 
Iowa, 1846, 
Wisconsin, 1848, 
California, 1850, 
Minnesota, 1858, 



Oregon, 1859, 

Kansas, 1861, 

West Virginia, 1863, 

Nevada, 1864, 

Nebraska, 1867, 

Colorado, 1876, 

North and South Dakota, ii 

Montana, 1889, 

Washington, 1889, 

Idaho, 1890, 

Wyoming, 1890, 

Utah, #896, 



( .klahoma and Indian Territory as State of Oklahoma, 1907. 
At this date, Oct, 1910, there are forty-six stars on the field of the 
flag. (IT) 



******** 
*••**•• 

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**•*•••* 


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*••••*** 


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A rrangement of the 4b stars, July 4, iqoS 



— 2 3— 

Arizona and New Mexico were admitted by vote of Congress, June, 
1 910, conditional on each state adopting a constitution acceptable to the 
President and to Congress. 

As the star representing the state does not take its place on the flag 
till the 4th of July following the admission, the stars representing Arizona 
and New Mexico, the forty-seventh and forty-eighth, may not be placed 
before July 4, 191 1. 

This leaves only Alaska and the Hawaiian Islands outside of state- 
hood. 

Since that eventful afternoon, July 4, 1776, when with a boldness 
that seemed audacity but a hope that seemed a prophecy, the Declara- 
tion of Independence was signed and the name United States of America 
added to the list of independent nations, and nearly a year later the Stars 
and Stripes adopted as the sign of nationality — since that date we have been 
one of the combatants in three wars important to us as a Nation and our 
flag has waved over victorious peace at the close of each. 



—24— 



[st that with England, 1812-1815; 2 d, the Civil war, 1861-1865, and 
Jd| the Spanish-American war, 1898-1899 (one year lacking ten days). 
\ Eew incidents in connection with the flag may be given. 
In the war with England, 1812-15, our small navy was uniformly 
successful, particularly on the Northern Lakes, where over one thousand 
British vessels were captured and where not once was our flag lowered in 
token of surrender. 

The Civil war or war of the Rebellion, as it was called at the time. 
In i860 our flag had thirty-three stars, representing the thirty-three 
states then in the Union. Slavery had early existed in all the Colonies, but 
in all the Northern States the slaves had been freed, by Act of Legisla- 
ture—Connecticut in 1784. 

A moral sentiment against slavery was general in the North, while 

the South resented any interference with her efforts to extend the system. 

The crisis came with the election of Abraham Lincoln, November, i860. 

The Legislature of South Carolina voted unanimously December 20, 



— 2 5— 

i860, to secede, and called on all the slave states to join her and form a 
new nation under the name of The Confederate States of America. In 
the next two months, six states followed her example, though in none of 
the six was the vote unanimous in conventions called for the purpose of 
deciding. These seven states sent delegates to Montgomery, selected to 
be the capital of the confederacy. 

The subject of a flag came up for discussion. A committee of one 
from each state decided the matter. They called it "Stars and Bars." (12) 

At first it had seven stars on the field; by the close of the year there 
were ten. All the Southern States, in conventions called for the purpose, 
voted with varying majorities to secede, but in none except North and 
South Carolina was the vote unanimous. June, 1861, forty Virginia 
counties voted against secession and to form a separate state — West Vir- 
ginia. Four border-states were counted out or in the Union (the senti- 
ment being so evenly divided) as the National or Confederate troops 
occupied the ground. So the number of stars on the Confederate flag 
varied. At one time thirteen were claimed. 



—2 6— 

The North and the Government at Washington considered that the 
Union was a tie that could not be broken and the Supreme Court insisted 
on the unity of our national life and the supremacy of the central govern- 
ment. So no star was ever taken from the field of Our Flag, a fact that 
[jives great satisfaction to the Southern States. 

The records of the War department show that 2,653,062 men enlisted 
on the Union side, of whom 276,376 were killed or died of wounds or 
disease. Connecticut sent 55,880 men. 

A few years ago Congress ordered all captured flags in possession of the 
Government, 198 in number, to be returned to their original owners. 
Probably the first flag returned by its captors was in 1885, when the 13th 
Connecticut sent, by permission of our State Legislature, a flag taken from 
a Louisiana battery. It was sent wrapped in a U. S. flag, and the delight 
of the few survivors of the company at receiving their old flag was added 
to their cheers for the flag representing a United Country. 

It was during this war, '61-6$, that our flag was christened "Old 
Glory." 



—2 7 — 

William Driver, a sea-captain from Salem, Mass., had been presented 
at a foreign port, because of some service rendered the people, with a beau- 
tiful American flag. Later, giving up the sea, he made his home in Nash- 
ville, Tenn. He opposed secession. To secrete the flag, he sewed it in a 
quilt and every night slept under it. He named it "Old Glory." 

His house was searched many times in vain. When the Union troops 
under Gen. Buell entered Nashville, Feb. 1862, he brought out Old Glory 
and raised it on the State House. 

After the fall of Richmond, April 2, 1865, an th e Southern States 
took formal action of return and the tie of union seemed stronger than 
before. This seemed proved, after thirty-three years, at the beginning of 
the Spanish-American war in April, 1898. When the subject of Spanish 
oppression in Cuba and the blowing up of the Maine in the harbor of 
Havana, Feb. 15, 1898, was discussed in Congress, a Southern Senator 
moved "that $50,000 be immediately placed at the disposal of President 
McKinley, to uphold the honor of our Country." Every Southern man in 
both Houses voted "aye" and troops were offered from all those states. 



— 28— 

Congress declared Cuba independent April 19. Spain declared war 
April _' 1 and gave Minister Woodford his passport. 

Secretary Long of the navy immediately cabled Admiral Dewey, in 
command of seven of our finest war vessels composing our Pacific squad- 
ron, to "capture or destroy the Spanish fleet," known to be in the harbor 
of Manila. Sailing from Hong-Kong", the ships steamed for Manila, 620 
miles away. The battle was fought May 1 with the wonderful result that 
every Spanish ship was destroyed, with a loss of 634 men, but not one 
American life lost. 

As soon as the news was cabled to Washington, Secretary Long- 
ordered the Oregon, the newest and finest of our fleet, to join the Atlantic 
squadron "with all speed."* 

This meant racing-speed, but so perfect had been the construction of 

* When one of our tneu-of-war starts from a foreign for a home-port, she raises a Homeward- 
bound Flag (/j) on her mainmast, that flies there till the home-port is reached. The blue field is 
often long enough to accommodate the number of stars on Our Flag, the two stripes being of propor- 
tionate length. 






the ship that it bore the fearful strain and not once was the speed lessened 
for repairs, and in less than four weeks, May 24, 1898, the 14,700 miles 
had been made and the Oregon joined our Atlantic fleet off Cuba. The 
whereabouts of the Spanish Atlantic fleet was unknown. It had steamed 
from Cadiz, stopping at the Azores and then probably making for some 
Atlantic port. Failing to appear, it was decided that it was hiding in some 
Cuban port, probably Santiago, on the Southern shore. This was verified 
by balloon. A watch was set June 1, our ships forming a semi-circle oppo- 
site the entrance to the large bay. In order to "bottle-up" the Spanish 
ships, the Merrimac was sunk across the narrow entrance, June 2d. But 
a ball from Fort Moro, the Spanish fort near-by, hit the rudder and the 
boat swung partly round and failed to entirely close the entrance. Later 
in the day, a shell from the Indiana carried away the fort's flag and it was 
not replaced till "Old Glory" was raised there. The watch continued for 
a month, steam was kept up and search-lights thrown out at night. 

Sunday morning, July 3, Admiral Cervera saw the Church flag of the 



— 3°~ 

navy ( r.f) rise to the top of the mast on the flagship Nezu York, the only 
flag that ever flies above the Stars and Stripes, and only during Divine ser- 
vice. Thinking that the men would be off duty, he ordered the fleet to make 
an effort to escape. 

The watch on the Iowa saw a faint line of smoke moving over the hills 
that shut in the bay; he fired a gun to attract attention and signalled "they 
arc coming." 

It was 9.30 o'clock and service had begun, but in less than three min- 
utes every man in his Sunday suit of white duck was at his post at the 
guns or in the ammunition room. 

Slowly, Indian-file, the Spanish ships came out and turning westward 
fled for their lives, our ships with our flag flying from every masthead in 
close pursuit.* At 1.30 it was over; every Spanish ship had been either 
burned or beached, not one of our fleet seriously injured, and only one man 
killed. The rapidity with which these two great naval battles had been 

*So perfect was the aim from target practice that the Oregon could drop a half-ton shell on deck 
of a fleeing ship. 



••••••••• 



13 



■ 



—3i— 

fought excited the other nations, for never before had an enemy's whole 
fleet been captured or destroyed in any battle. One thousand eight hun- 
dred Spanish prisoners were taken from the vessels. Not by word or deed 
was a man reminded of his humiliation. Admiral Cervera was received 
on the Iowa with full military honors and his sword, which he handed to 
Capt. Evans, returned to him. 

Till the men could be sent home to Spain on one of our warships, they 
were cared for at Portland, Me., and were astonished at the treatment. 
At the beginning of the Spanish-American war we stood the sixth of the 
naval powers of the world, at its close we stood second. 

In the land attack, June 30 to July 2, our flag was successful. The 
war was over. 

The Treaty of Peace was signed April 11, 1899, just one hundred 
and sixteen years to a day since the treaty at the close of the Revolu- 
tionary war. 

Porto Rico had asked to be taken under our protection and our flag 
was raised on the capitol at Ponce, Oct. 18, 1898. 



_ 32 _ 



I ater a ma*of-war was sent to the island, with orders to ra.se our Bag 

„ every port. Reaching the last town, it was found that there was no flag 

,- T1 I, mar i„es tacked a white sheet to the deck and painted the stnpes 

J |R , (1 The imp ,,„„„ lu Hag was raised over the town hall w.th appro- 

print c ceremonies. . , 

Most of the states have a flag-law making it a misdemeanor, punish- 
able with fine or imprisonment, or both, to place any picture, name or 
inscription on our flag. A bill is before Congress for a national law o 
that effect. The number of the regiment of Government troops is 
excepted. Gen. Grant once said, "No name is worthy to be placed on our 

g ' England has long boasted that "the sun never sets on her dominions." 
They afe scattered world-wide. Since the purchase of Alaska mc.ud.ng 
the Aleutian Islands, over one hundred and fifty in number, -aching from 
Maska to Kamtchatka) from Russia in !86 7 for $7,000,000 we can say 
Z the sun never sets on our continuous territory, for when it , setting 



—33— 

on the most westerly of these islands it has risen at Eastport, Maine. 
Some of our possessions under the protection of our flag are held for pro- 
tection and ultimate self-government, and wherever it floats it demands 
respect for the nation it represents. 

"The Star Spangled Banner, Oh long may it wave 
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave ! " 



ITEMS OF INTEREST IN CONNECTION WITH OUR FLAG. 

In its general form adopted June 14, 1777, it is older than any of 
those of Europe except Denmark, which has been in use since 1219. That 
of Spain, adopted in 1785, follows ours. 

Most of the flags used by the navy are made at the Equipment Build- 
ing, Brooklyn Navy Yard. The regulation number for a battle-ship is 
250, for saluting, for signalling, and to meet all ceremonial and official 
requirements while in foreign ports. Among them are nineteen inter- 
national signal flags and forty-three foreign flags. 

A flag raised only half-way-up on staff indicates mourning. 

A flag upside down, i.e., the field below the stripes, an appeal for help. 

War-ships have' a way of talking when at a distance from each other 
that is called "wig-wagging." A simple flag on a long pole is held upright 
by the signaller and is lowered to the right and brought back to its vertical 



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position : this means one ; if lowered to the left it is two ; if held upright it 
is three. All the letters of the alphabet and numerals are indicated by 
combinations of one, two and three. 

A member of Parliament gave notice Feb. 7, 1783, in the House of 
Commons that "an extraordinary event had happened. An American ship 
was in the Thames, flying a flag of thirteen stripes and the custom officers 
did not know what action to take." No doubt the first appearance of our 
flag in English waters. 

Our flag first saluted by foreign power Feb. 14, 1777, in French 
waters by Admiral Piquot in returning salute of Lieut. Paul Jones. 

The President, as Commander-in-Chief of the army and navy, has his 
special flag, 5 ft. by 4 ft., the coat of arms of the United States on blue 
field, with thirteen stars in a curve above the eagle. 

The Washington Monument at Washington, D. C, is 555 ft. 5 in. 
high. Corner stone laid 1848, completed Dec. 6, 1884, at 2.00 p. m. The 
stars and stripes were then hoisted above the aluminum point that caps the 



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monument , flying from the highest constructed point in the ^orlA *. 
Paul> ,.„„,,,„, the next in height, is 404 ft. The monument cost $ 187,710. 
itairal Dewey and Justice Moody, then Secretary of dre Navy, 
Resident Rooseveh to order that the Star Spangled Banner be 
our National anthem. At all naval stat.ons when the flag >s raised o 
Zered, if possible, a band plays the National air, the men sprmgmg to 
their feet at the first strain. 



BETSEY ROSS AND THE FIRST FLAG. 

The following facts referring to Betsey Ross and the making of the first flag are furnished by 
Mr. George Canby of Philadelphia, a grandson of Betsey Ross. 

Elizabeth Ross was born Jan. i, 1752. She was the daughter of Samuel and Rebecca (James) 
Griscom, members of the Society of Friends or Quakers. Her father was a noted builder and 
assisted in the erection of the State House, now Independence Hall. His house, shop, and a very 
large garden were on Arch st. between Third and Fourth sts. Elizabeth, or Betsey as she was fondly 
called, was the sixth daughter. Her birthday was the first day under the new Gregorian calendar. 
It was frequently said in the family that "she was born the first day of the month, the first day of 
the year, the first day of the new style." She was well trained by her mother and become very expert 
with her needle and was fond of embroidery. Among her many admirers was John Ross, son of 
Rev. ^Eueas Ross, assistant rector of Christ Church. 

The young man was a nephew of Hon. George Ross, delegate to Congress and one of the signers 
of the Declaration of Independence. John was an upholsterer, working with a Mr. Webster, the lead- 
ing upholsterer of the city. One day in the establishment there was trouble about some drapery and 
John suggested that Miss Griscom could do it. Her evident skill induced Mr. Webster to urge her 
to learn his trade, which she did. John and Betsey were married, December 1773. She was disowned 
by the Friends, her husband being an Episcopalian. 

They started business for themselves on Chestnut st., and later moved to Arch st. John Ross 
died January 20, 1776. 



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The young widow determined to continue business on her own account. 

The uncle, Hon. George Ross, was interested in her success. When Washington, who made a 
hurried visit to Philadelphia, May 23, 1776, to confer with Congress on matters connected with the 
army theu encamped at New York, suggested to Mr. Ross that a sample flag be made, he at once 
named his niece as one who could do it, and accompanied Washington and Morris to the house. 
Passing into the back parlor to avoid public view, they asked Mrs. Ross if she could make a flag ; 
she replied, "she did not know, but would try." She suggested the changing of the stars that 
Washington had drawn with six points to five, folding a piece of paper and cutting a five-pointed 
star accurately. 

Her finished flag was approved by the Committee, and she was soon ordered to procure all the 
bunting she could get in Philadelphia and make flags for the use of Congress. Her uncle furnished 
the money necessary. 

There is an entry of a draft on the U. S. Treasury, May, 1777, "to pay Betsy Ross ^"14. 12s. 2d. 
for flags for fleet in Delaware river." 

She married Capt. Ashburn, who was captured at sea and died in a prison at Plymouth, Eng. 
She married for her third husband John Claypoole and was a third time a widow. 

She died January 30, 1836. 

Mr. Canby says there is no likeness of his grandmother — not even a silhouette ; that for the 
chromo published a few years ago — " Betsy Ross making the first flag" — six of her granddaughters 
sat for a " composite picture," thus securing a family likeness. 






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